Preparations began

Cory gets answers. Enter Harmony and Great grandmother Willa. Great grandmother Willa makes a prediction. Rowle and company are invited to a party.

As Hermione cried out her guilty feelings, Cory frowned. Something wasn't adding up for him. He was the son of a police officer, a very curious police officer. His father didn't have a single unsolved case to his name. And the man tended to take the cases nobody else wanted to deal with. When he wanted answers, he got his answers! He'd raised Cory the same way, to question everything.

He pulled his seat around the face Hermione directly. "Hermione, what happened after that?"

"I called the police. The other girls didn't want me to. I knew, I just knew, if I could get them there fast enough, maybe I would get Henry back. Too bad it took them until dawn to get there. By that time, the other girls had already left. I was sitting at the gate by myself." Hermione held her hands, palm up. "I told them everything that had happened. They went in and came back out in less than five minutes. All they could find, they claimed, was a few pieces of broken furniture. Vandalism, they claimed. There was no sign of anyone ever having been in the house. They told me to go home. More than likely, they said, Henry was just playing a joke on me and would be home soon."

"So I went on home. I told mom and dad what had happened. Mom believed me, especially after great grandmother Willa heard what happened. Dad didn't. He thought that we had gone out drinking and driving. Henry and his friends must be somewhere in a ditch, dead or injured, and I just didn't want to be blamed for it." Anthony let out a sigh of disbelief at that.

"You called that afternoon, trying to find Henry. He'd missed practice and you were worried. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you then. I couldn't. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me either." Hermione reminded Cory. He nodded, remembering when his former fullback had disappeared.

"And after that? When they didn't show back up? What happened then?" he asked. The others grinned, recognizing his father's patented method of grilling for answers.

"They waited from that Saturday morning until the next Friday. Then they hauled me back in for questioning. I was so upset that mom and g'mom thought it best to keep me home that week. So I didn't have a clue about what was happening on campus. Apparently, what was happening was those girls told everyone they had broken up with their boyfriends before they vanished. The reason they gave was apparently the boys were all cheating with ME!" Hermione shook her head.

"So the police decided to take a different line with me. Once they had me down there, they completely ignored everything I'd told them the last time. They wanted to know when I had seen all the boys last, where I had seen them. Then they told me that I just needed to tell them the truth. What had I done with the boys? How did I do it? Where had I put them?" At this point, Cory realized the police had turned her from a person of interest into a murder suspect.

"They-? Whoa! They thought what-? You KILLED them? Is that what you're saying? The police actually, at this point, thought you killed four boys, one of whom was your own brother?!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah. They thought I killed them. I told them, over and over, what I had already told them. They laughed at me. They asked me if I seriously thought anyone would believe such a stupid story. So I decided to give them what they wanted." Hermione looked at him defiantly. They waited to see what she had told the cops.

"I admitted it. 'Yes, I killed them. I killed the boys. Now, I dare you to be able to find them or my murder weapons!' They wanted a story so I gave them a story!" Anthony, Alex and Thorfinn were grinning as they listened. Cory was smiling as he face palmed.

"I went into that house with Larry, James, Ronny and Henry. I poisoned Larry. Then I led James and Ronny up the stairs. Poor James got his hands all cut up so I took him into the bathroom. While he soaked his hands, I slipped out and tricked Ronny into looking out a window. Then I took an ax and decapitated him! I went back and grabbed a bottle of acid and led James into the hallway. I threw the acid in his face and shoved him backwards down the stairs. Then I raced down them to grab my handy dandy shotgun, so conveniently loaded! I shot Henry in the back as he ran out of the house!" she turned to Thorfinn. "I bet you didn't realize you were being tutored by a serial killer, did you?"

Cory, after he managed to stop sniggering, resumed questioning her. "Please tell me they didn't fall for that story!" he begged her.

"Apparently, they were having a slow crime day. They held me there while they sent officers to check out the house again. The found an ax, a shotgun and a bottle that had held acid. They didn't find any poisoned food. The bottle had been laying there dried up for years. The ax and shotgun both were so rusty they could only have killed anyone if you bopped them over the head hard enough. They couldn't hold me. They didn't have any evidence, murder weapon or anything." Hermione looked at them.

"Then there was last year. Four MORE boys disappeared. Guess who the cops came looking for. Apparently I'm the first and only one who has ever brought their attention to that old house. So of course, I'm going to get blamed for every disappearance from now on!" The boys' jaws dropped in disbelief. Just then, her phone rang. She picked it up, looked at it and laid it back down.

"Since they seemed to swear and be damned that I had killed these last four as well. I had to think of different ways to kill them. Let's see. I hung one of them. I electrocuted another one. Then I stabbed a third one in the back. The last one I hit in the head with a baseball bat. Then I dared them again to find my murder weapons. That time they didn't find anything. But that didn't stop them from arresting me. They got as far as trying me for eight counts of premeditated murder. Fortunately, the judge took my side and threw the case out for lack of evidence. But he had to put me on parole. They wouldn't let up on that point. So I have been on parole for the past year." Cory was shaking his head. Anthony and Alex were frowning darkly. Thorfinn had a hand resting on her back.

"After that whole thing, I became a social outcast. Because of my parole, I'm unable to leave the county for any reason. So movies, dinner and clubbing are out of the question unless it's something going on here on campus. All the girls I thought I was friends with started avoiding me. That was fine by me because I didn't want to be seen with anyone. There are only three girls on campus now who are brave enough to hang out with me, despite my bad reputation. You three are dating them. Karrie, Jane and Brianna." They smiled as she named their girlfriends.

"Lord! When you set out to get yourself in trouble, you go all out, girl!" Cory laughed.

"What can I say? 'Go big or go home'!" Hermione chuckled. Her phone rang again. She picked it up and sighed. "Oh my god, Harmony! I have to get this or she'll keep blowing up my phone. Excuse me, I'll be right back." She got up and walked into their kitchenette, clicking the talk button.

Cory sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. Anthony looked at him and nudged Alex. "Uh, oh. Cory's got his thinking face on."

"Ok, Cory. What's going on in that brain of yours?" Alex asked warily. Thorfinn was smiling, as if he already knew what Cory would say.

"I think I want to see the inside of that old house." Cory said slowly.

"When are we going? Are we taking her in with us?" Thorfinn asked. Cory shook his head. Then he frowned as he thought about it.

"I might let her go in with us but not at night. That's too dangerous for her." Cory chewed his lip. He looked around as Hermione raised her voice slightly in the kitchen. "She doesn't sound happy. Her sister must be giving her a hard time or something."

In the kitchen, Hermione was arguing with her little sister. "What do you WANT? I'm supposed to be tutoring here. Not yakking on the phone!"

"Who are you tutoring? Where are you anyway? There's a party tonight! You need to go! Randy will be there and he's bringing his brother. He says he's really nice but he's shy." Harmony chirped at her.

"Oh, no! No! I'm not being set up on a blind date, Harmony! You can just find another date for Randy's brother! It won't be me!" Hermione seethed.

"You are no fun, Hermione! What's the point of being at school with my sister if you never hang out with me?!" Harmony snapped. Hermione heard someone in the background. Then Harmony said loudly, "Oh, all right! Fine! Here she is!"

She realized Harmony must actually be at their house as her great grandmother Willa got on the phone with her. "Hermione, dear. He's perfect for you. And his friends are willing to help you. The legend can be cracked but not broken. Not yet, dear. That will be next year. Take him to the party, darling. Snuggle up to him and treat him good. He's very much reformed."

"G'mom? What are you talking about? Who are you talking about?" Hermione asked. With a sinking stomach, she waited for the answer. She could almost guess what the old lady was going to say.

"Yeah, g'mom. Who ARE we talking about? Who have you been hiding, Hermione?" Harmony had slipped off and rejoined the conversation on the other landline at their house.

"Ahhh! Get off the phone, Harmony! This is between me and g'mom!" Hermione growled at her sister.

"Not today, it isn't!" Harmony tittered. Hermione let out a hefty sigh and covered her eyes.

"Why, your fullback, dear. Remember him? Big, blonde? He winked at you in the store and made you turn pink, dear. Are you sure you don't remember him?" Great grandmother Willa asked her. Hermione stared openmouthed at her phone. 'That had been two years ago! While Henry was still alive! She, g'mom and Harmony had been picking him up from work. Thorfinn and some of the others had been there, too! It wasn't long before Henry disappeared! How had she remembered him?!'

"He really likes you, dear. He's changed his ways for you. Didn't you notice that?" the old lady continued, as if she hadn't just dropped a bombshell on Hermione.

"He-? He what? What about the legend?" Hermione decided to concentrate more on the legend than the fact that her great grandmother Willa had just basically ratted her out to her little sister.

"They're going into the house this Friday, sweetheart. They're going to help you crack the legend. Next year you can break the legend completely. But remember dear, one of them MUST make it out of the house and off the property by midnight." Willa told her.

"Oh! Hermione! The big, blonde fullback? Rowle! That's who you're tutoring? Why didn't you tell me?! Ahhh! That's great! Bring him to the party! Oh my god! I can't believe it! I have to tell the others! Bring him, Hermione! Bring his friends, too!" Harmony ordered.

"His friends have girlfriends, Harmony!" Hermione snapped at her.

"So tell them to bring a +one!" Harmony sang back at her. Hermione snarled as she resisted the urge to reach through the phone and throttle her little sister!

"Now, now, dear! She's just young! You were like that before we lost Henry, remember? Now. This is very important, Hermione. Strange things are at play. Your boys will have unknown allies in that house. Don't worry, dear. You'll be able to bring them back next year. BUT one of them has to make it out to the road. Make sure they understand that!" Willa told her seriously. Hermione sighed as she felt her heart start pounding. She wasn't even near the house and she was already terrified of the implications of her great grandmother's words.

"Now, you go back in there and tell him to go to that party with you. Snuggle up and hold him tight. You won't see him for a year." Willa ordered. Hermione nodded, even though her great grandmother couldn't see her through the phone. She clicked her phone off.

She headed back to the living room. It looked like the guys were talking about something serious. Not wanting to interrupt them, she waited by the kitchen door. Thorfinn looked up, saw her and waved her over. Cory turned and smiled at her. She sank down beside Thorfinn on the couch. "So, that was my sister and my g'mom Willa. Apparently, I'm supposed to invite all of you to a party being held at the barn. You three can invite a +one. I've been ordered by g'mom and my sister both to bring you." She looked at Thorfinn who grinned widely at her.

"My g'mom also gave me a strange message. I'm hoping it isn't what it sounded like. She told me that you four are going into the house this Friday. That you're going to help me 'crack the legend' this year. Then we'll be able to 'break the legend' next year. She also made it sound like only one of you would come out of there. That whoever makes it HAS to be off the property and in the road by midnight! Please tell me that isn't what she meant!" Hermione looked at Cory pleadingly.

"Yeah. That's what she meant. I want to see the inside of that house. So we're going in there." Cory told her.

"Not Friday night, though, right? You can't go in there! You won't make it out! Nobody has ever made it out!" Hermione grabbed his arms.

"Wrong. You made it out. Henry almost made it out. What I want to know is how your g'mom knew it was going to happen." Cory cocked a brow at her. Hermione rolled her eyes and slumped.

"G'mom swears she has ESP. She 'knows' things. Dad calls her a crackpot. Mom believes her. Especially after she 'predicted' that mom was going to have twins. Apparently the doctors told mom she was only carrying a son. G'mom told her she was having twins. Dad called her crazy but then mom had Henry and me. G'mom has never let him live it down." Hermione shook her head. "But that's beside the point. You're really, seriously going into that house this Friday? Even after everything I told you about it?"

Cory nodded slowly. "We're going to go in one night before Friday. Then we're going back in Friday night."

"Then I guess I need to tell you the rest of the legend. It's said that the lost ones can be brought back but not until the next year. In order for them to be brought back, at least one boy has got to make it out of the house and off the property by midnight. My g'mom wanted me to make that especially clear. One of you has got to be IN THE ROAD by midnight, Friday night." Hermione emphasized.

"Midnight. Got it!" Cory said softly.

Hermione set her elbows on her knees and cupped her face. "Ok. Then I'm going in, too."

"No!" he said firmly. She whipped up her head to look at him.

"Please. Just five minutes! Then I swear I'll go back outside!" she begged.

"No, Damnit, I-!" Cory stopped as he remembered something she'd said earlier. "'Ok. Five minutes. Regardless of whether or not he shows up, you will be out of that house in five minutes."

"Oh, Cory. You're such a big brother. Has anyone ever told you that?" Hermione laughed weakly.

"My little sisters. All the time." Cory chuckled.

Hermione sighed. "I don't suppose there's any possible way to talk you of this?" Cory was already shaking his head no. "Ok. There's a party at the barn. I assume you all know where the barn is?" They nodded. "Great. As I was told earlier, you three can bring a plus one. But I've been ordered to bring the big boy." she motioned at Thorfinn. "The woman saw you for literally five minutes two years ago. But she remembers you. Don't ask me how. Apparently you're hard to forget!" Thorfinn smiled smugly at her. "Don't smirk just yet, big boy. From the way she talked, you're not going to be the one who makes it out Friday night." Thorfinn simply shrugged as he stood and stretched.

"I'm going back to my dorm to get ready. My luck, Harmony and her friends will beat me back. We don't live far from campus. I'll meet you guys at the barn. Tell the girls hi from me. I'll see them soon." she looked up and patted Thorfinn on the arm. "Try not to get in a fight on your way over, ok?" They all laughed. Thorfinn's ability to find a fight was uncanny. Trouble just seemed to find the boy naturally.

She left and they called their girls. Thorfinn was looking forward to getting her on the dance floor. Hopefully there would be plenty of slow songs played tonight. They ordered a pizza while they killed time.

Hermione went on over to her dorm. By the time she walked through the front door, Harmony was already there with her friends and three different bags of stuff. Hermione dreaded to see what all she'd brought. As it turned out, makeup and outfits were crammed into the bags. All three girls had apparently grabbed not only their own outfit but also something for Hermione as well.

"Come ON, slowpoke. What, did you crawl across campus? It's a ten minute drive. What took you so long getting here?!' Harmony demanded. Hermione rolled her eyes. The girls hustled her up to her dorm room. They began pulling out different shirts and skirts. Harmony was digging through her shoes. "Omg! Hermione! Please tell me this is NOT all the shoes you own! Not one single pair of heels? Anywhere? And you call yourself my sister!" Harmony ran out of the room, clearly heading down the hall to her own room. She came back triumphantly brandishing three different pairs of high heels. Hermione took one look at them and burst out laughing.

"Please tell mom and dad I love them tomorrow. If I try to walk in any of those, I'll fall down the stairs and die from a broken neck!" she exclaimed. It was Harmony's turn to roll her eyes. "I'm serious, Harmony! I cannot walk in high heels, not without tripping over my own feet!"

"So you won't put them on until right before we walk into the barn, duh!" Harmony told her. "Don't worry, Hermione! I'll make sure you don't embarrass yourself in front of Rowle."

"Rowle? Rowle! Is that who we're fixing her up for?! Aaahh! She's got to look especially good!" the other girls squealed excitedly.

They quickly picked out the 'perfect' outfit for her. They wouldn't let her see it yet. That was the last step. It blew her mind that they actually had a set routine for getting ready for a party. They argued over which color makeup would look better on her. They couldn't seem to decide if she was a spring or fall. Finally they compromised and settled on summer, whatever that meant! They carefully applied her makeup. Then they started dressing her. Finally, she was ready except for her shoes. Harmony had the chosen shoes hooked over her thumb. They wouldn't let her see herself before they hustled her downstairs and out the door.

The lobby had been empty, a sure sign that they were going to be the last ones to show up. They didn't have far to walk as the barn was just down the road from their dorm. At the door, they stopped Hermione and put the shoes on her. Then they carefully guided her inside. They saw Rowle almost immediately. He was one of the tallest boys on campus, easily spotted if you knew which hair color to pick out. There were a few other tall boys but none with his golden blonde hair. They walked across the room carefully, making a beeline for the fullback. Just as they got there, he turned and saw Hermione. His eyes widened as his jaw dropped, literally dropped.

She stood there fidgeting with the bangles one of them had put on her. She couldn't help but wonder if he looked so amazed because she looked good or whether they had turned her into a clown and he was trying to keep from laughing his ass off at her. He took a step closer and reached up. Putting both arms around her, he pulled her close and whispered, "Let's dance." Before she could object, he had them on the dance floor swaying slowly to the music.

"You look so good, Granger. And damn! I don't know what that scent is but please, keep wearing it! You smell delicious! I don't suppose I could convince you to skip this little to-do, could I?" he murmured softly in her ear. Hermione laughed as she shook her head. Remembering her great grandmother's words, she wrapped her arms tightly around him and enjoyed the feel of his hands holding her firmly against him. Cory, Tony and Alex all smiled at the sight of them dancing. They were in their own little world the rest of the night.